Is Dancing a Sport?

Is dancing a sport? That's the real question, same with cheerleading as well. We've often debated about this as young kids, trying to defend the name of dancing from other children's taunts of inferior sports. We remember those  kids, especially boys who gave no thought to the hard work and dedication put into sports and activities done by girls. And still to this day dancing and cheerleading are looked upon as lesser sports than football or basketball, just because they're more women dominant sports.

Girls have always been looked upon as lesser than men. Since civilization began each gender has had it's role  in life and the way that we live. Something's are kept a tradition and others changed as a result of  the modern world that we claim to be. At an early age children are taught or notice the differences between genders and how they're treated differently. Girls because not thought of to be physically dominant are thought of as weaker and once sole role is to look good and take care of the house. This leads to debate, mostly between genders, of the physically demanding aspects of a sport and if it should be considered a sport. We all remember being teased by little boys when we were younger if dancing was a sport or not.

Dancing, as well as cheerleading, should be considered a sport because the physical demands are of equal or greater value to that of a man's sport. The word sport is described by dictionary.com as an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc. Dancing is equally a sport as anything else is because it requires skill and physical fitness. Endurance, flexibility, and health are all aspects of dance. You can get equally hurt in dance as well as in any other sport. Dancers have to use every single muscle in their body to complete intricate moves well and safely. Dance is a sport because it has competitions, judges, and sets of rules.

Some debate dance as being an art rather than a sport, but in all logic it is both. Dance is an expression of emotion, as art or any artist does, but dance requires physical ability to express this emotion. If dancers are considered athletes then how come dance isn't considered a sport. Dance is both an expression, an art, as well as a sport. (456)